Stallion options for event mare

[Gemystery]

I have a lovely big hannoverian mare I am looking to breed from this year. She is currently eventing at 1* and getting ready to step up to 2* (probably should be 3* by now but covid derailed plans!), has show jumped to 1.20 with plenty of scope to go higher. She's about 17hh, by Fisherman's Friend out of a Daktylus/Aloe xx mare (https://www.horsetelex.com/horses/pedigree/2679942/remi-fancy-dancer), she's relatively light type wise, often mistaken for a thoroughbred, she has three good paces, an excellent jump (have had both top level eventers and show jumpers wanting her), very careful and has a very good brain. Her main faults in terms of temperament are that she isn't the bravest horse xcountry and can be quite spooky. Conformation wise she's got a great shoulder, short back, good neck and decent feet. She is upright in her pasterns and doesn't have the best hocks (however none of these things have caused her any soundness issues), she could also be a little stronger behind and over her topline. She had a lovely Contendro I embryo a few years ago, he would be 4 now but sadly we lost him last year. To look at he was a very similar type to his mum but with better pastern/hock angles, he was one of the easiest horses I have started and just a really genuinely nice person. He was a bit heavier then her (but was a colt till 2 and a half) and unfortunately we lost him before we'd had a chance to free jump him. I am considering going back to Contendro I this time as I really did love the last one, my only apprehension is that he was a little heavier then I'd perhaps like. While the mare is very thoroughbredy, her sire could throw some very big/solid horses so I'm aware this may come out in her foals.
The stallions on my list are
Contendro I
Ramiro B (I have a service to him and he's certainly well proven but I'm concerned he's too heavy for her)
Upsilon if I can get semen (if any one knows what the semen quality is like I'd be keen to hear)
Grafenstolz (have heard he may not throw the best limbs)
Future Prophecy (he's as yet unproven which puts me off given the expense of embryo transfer but would add blood which I like)
Diarado (again may not add enough blood)
I really like Jackaroo but I don't think there's semen available for Australia.
Flexible (50/50 on him as from all accounts he may not throw good enough movers for eventing)
Herald iii but have not seen a lot of progeny.
I also like Carrick Diamond Lad but have discounted him as I think the foal would be too heavy.
I'm open to other options but am in Australia so they either need to be here or available via frozen. Really keen to hear if Ramiro B would be too heavy given I have the service (I have another mare he would suit but don't think I can justify two emrbyos this year).
I would like something that throws good limbs, doesn't produce heavy, won't lose any movement (bonus if they improve the quality of the paces), preferably something sharp in terms of jumping and I don't mind small or feisty (probably a very long wish list!)
The hope is to produce an upper level (3/4*) eventer but equally given we have tossed up straight show jumping the mare it wouldn't be the end of the world if the foal was more suited to show jumping. Sorry for the essay but hopefully that gives enough info/background.

 

[TheMule]

How exciting to have such a lovely mare to breed from!

I’d probably stick with Contendro- you know it works and it should do the job you want
The Ramiro Bs aren’t heavy as such but can be a bit ‘blocky’ and plain IMO, also usually smaller types. I wouldn’t use him to add blood. They do have lovely temperaments though and are very useful sorts.
Upsilons are sharp!
Grafenstolz obviously has a lot of very good ones out there and they are generally of the same type. I wouldn’t worry about the limbs, I think it’s a bit of an old rumour, but you do need to be ready to accept a bit of a ‘trakhener brain’ as some I have seen have been a bit awkward
Future Prophecy is totally unproven, never really ridden himself, wouldn’t feature on my list
Diarados are brave, pretty and they jump. They lack blood for 5* but should be fine for what you want
I don’t know much about the Irish ones on your list

 

[Gemystery]

How exciting to have such a lovely mare to breed from!

I’d probably stick with Contendro- you know it works and it should do the job you want
The Ramiro Bs aren’t heavy as such but can be a bit ‘blocky’ and plain IMO, also usually smaller types. I wouldn’t use him to add blood. They do have lovely temperaments though and are very useful sorts.
Upsilons are sharp!
Grafenstolz obviously has a lot of very good ones out there and they are generally of the same type. I wouldn’t worry about the limbs, I think it’s a bit of an old rumour, but you do need to be ready to accept a bit of a ‘trakhener brain’ as some I have seen have been a bit awkward
Future Prophecy is totally unproven, never really ridden himself, wouldn’t feature on my list
Diarados are brave, pretty and they jump. They lack blood for 5* but should be fine for what you want
I don’t know much about the Irish ones on your list

Thank you for the info. I think Contendro may be the go as we know what the cross is like, the colt was a little heavier then I was hoping but given how good his temperament was, if he didn't make it to the top he'd have been a super young riders horse! Might save the Ramiro B semen for a very sharp Chico's Boy mare..
Sharp or quirky isn't a worry, nor is height as I'm quite happy with them being smaller. The mare is 17hh so is unlikely to produce overly small anyway.
Of Graf and Diarado, which would be more inclined to produce a top level horse? (On paper at least as know there's a lot more to it then just breeding).
I have always loved Diarado and from the progeny, I think his are maybe a little more consistent in type then Graf (but that of course could be down to the mares used). I'm very tempted to use him for this mare, if only it was cheaper and could do a Diarado and another Contendro!

 

[TheMule]

Thank you for the info. I think Contendro may be the go as we know what the cross is like, the colt was a little heavier then I was hoping but given how good his temperament was, if he didn't make it to the top he'd have been a super young riders horse! Might save the Ramiro B semen for a very sharp Chico's Boy mare..
Sharp or quirky isn't a worry, nor is height as I'm quite happy with them being smaller. The mare is 17hh so is unlikely to produce overly small anyway.
Of Graf and Diarado, which would be more inclined to produce a top level horse? (On paper at least as know there's a lot more to it then just breeding).
I have always loved Diarado and from the progeny, I think his are maybe a little more consistent in type then Graf (but that of course could be down to the mares used). I'm very tempted to use him for this mare, if only it was cheaper and could do a Diarado and another Contendro!

Graf had a lot of mares but I don’t see a tonne is top horses (though yes, there are obviously some exceptional ones!)
Diarado has not been used for that long to purpose breed eventers but there are lots by him doing the job at the highest level. The SJers that I’ve seen by him are not generally top top 1.60 horses but he has quite a lot jumping Derbies for which you need a brave one!

 

[LEC]

I would strongly consider Herald. I really like the offspring which are coming through. We saw a lovely stallion by him the other day who wouldn't be by a dissimilar type mare you have - stallion is called Bartender so have a look. They really rate him and he was a lovely person. Yas Ingham has a super herald in Gypsy Du Loir and I see the Du Loir stud who are often quite forward thinking have more by him.
There is another I like by him but it's slipped my mind. I have always been surprised he hasn't had more progeny but wasn't marketed quite so well as a stallion like Grafenstoltz.

 

[Violetthegrey]

The stallions at Future Sport Horses are all very well put together, we chose Future Gravitas for our sport horse mare. He has some very talented offspring already out competing. The lady who owns them is lovely and will talk through the attributes of her stallions with you to help you decide if they are right for your mare.

 

[Gemystery]

Thank you all for the information. I have liked Herald for a long time, just haven't seen loads by him so will definitely consider him! Will add more tb blood too, the mare is quite light herself but not a huge amount of blood on paper. Slightly unrelated but does anyone know what sort of size ramiro b throws? I have a 15.1hh mare I am considering putting to him, she has had one foal and foaled down fine but as she isn't a big mare I don't want to put her to anything known to throw big foals.

 

[TheMule]

Thank you all for the information. I have liked Herald for a long time, just haven't seen loads by him so will definitely consider him! Will add more tb blood too, the mare is quite light herself but not a huge amount of blood on paper. Slightly unrelated but does anyone know what sort of size ramiro b throws? I have a 15.1hh mare I am considering putting to him, she has had one foal and foaled down fine but as she isn't a big mare I don't want to put her to anything known to throw big foals.

Ramiro B doesn’t throw tall

 

[Asha]

Thank you all for the information. I have liked Herald for a long time, just haven't seen loads by him so will definitely consider him! Will add more tb blood too, the mare is quite light herself but not a huge amount of blood on paper. Slightly unrelated but does anyone know what sort of size ramiro b throws? I have a 15.1hh mare I am considering putting to him, she has had one foal and foaled down fine but as she isn't a big mare I don't want to put her to anything known to throw big foals.

i used him on a 15.3 Donvhp mare. Got a lovely 16hd nice high end RC type / low level eventer. Who was and still is an absolute poppet.

 

[MatHalTed]

Thank you all for the information. I have liked Herald for a long time, just haven't seen loads by him so will definitely consider him! Will add more tb blood too, the mare is quite light herself but not a huge amount of blood on paper. Slightly unrelated but does anyone know what sort of size ramiro b throws? I have a 15.1hh mare I am considering putting to him, she has had one foal and foaled down fine but as she isn't a big mare I don't want to put her to anything known to throw big foals.

The grey in my profile pic was by Ramiro B, dam was 15.3hh Irish draught sport type with unknown breeding, she barely made 16hh on her tippy toes so I wouldn't say he adds much height. The ones I've seen do seem to have quite a bit of bone and substance to them though (for Warmblood types at least)

 

[Gemystery]

Thanks for the info. I don't mind if they aren't tall, just don't want to use him if he throws broad/solid foals given the mare isn't huge. I don't want to risk foaling issues but sounds like it could be a good cross. The mare was a very good jumper, just need something to add some movement/bigger stride and I think I'd have a good chance at producing an upper level eventer. She isn't the most up hill mare so bonus if he improves that and adds some bone. She's Australian stock horse and about 75% thoroughbred so should have enough blood for him.

 

[ihatework]

Thanks for the info. I don't mind if they aren't tall, just don't want to use him if he throws broad/solid foals given the mare isn't huge. I don't want to risk foaling issues but sounds like it could be a good cross. The mare was a very good jumper, just need something to add some movement/bigger stride and I think I'd have a good chance at producing an upper level eventer. She isn't the most up hill mare so bonus if he improves that and adds some bone. She's Australian stock horse and about 75% thoroughbred so should have enough blood for him.

Don’t get me wrong when I say this, because he is a good stallion and very influential. But in general he doesn’t throw fancy. He throws correct and a little ordinary. Probably what more people need! They generally have solid temperaments, and a % go on to be very good through their training/trainability. You would probably want to check out the quality of his frozen if going for him.

 

[TheMule]

Don’t get me wrong when I say this, because he is a good stallion and very influential. But in general he doesn’t throw fancy. He throws correct and a little ordinary. Probably what more people need! They generally have solid temperaments, and a % go on to be very good through their training/trainability. You would probably want to check out the quality of his frozen if going for him.

I agree- he won’t add movement, a bigger stride or make them more uphill. He makes really solid citizens who do the job with no fuss (generally!)

 

[Gemystery]

Hmm maybe not for this mare then. We have the service and don't necessarily want to carry it over another season. He will be too heavy for the initial mare so may have to see if they will hold the service and try with something else. We have tried with one mare (was her last chance with frozen and has been deemed insuitable) and the vet said the semen was very good for frozen.

 

[Gemystery]

This is the little mare, 15.1hh super jumper, was held back mainly due to injury and she doesn't have the biggest stride. Has had a really lovely Stedinger filly last year, she's going to be quite tall, better mover then her mum. Main thing I want to improve is the mares movement (canter) and something more uphill which is exactly what we got with the filly. May go something local, just looking at Ramiro B as we have the service.

 

[ihatework]

I’m a little biased but I’d keep Diarado high on the list for her. He isn’t a consistent height thrower, but if you are ok with small then I think he could give you want you want. Nice mare!

 

[Gemystery]

I’m a little biased but I’d keep Diarado high on the list for her. He isn’t a consistent height thrower, but if you are ok with small then I think he could give you want you want. Nice mare!

Diarado was for the other mare, but I have always wanted to use him for this mare. I think it would be a pretty special baby and even if it's not much bigger then her it wouldn't worry me!